To:J. V. STALIN

Dictated:Dictated by phone on December 8, 1922Published:First published in 1965 inCollected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 54.

      Printed from a typewritten copy.Source:Lenin
	  Collected Works,

      Progress Publishers,1976,

      Moscow,Volume 45,

      pages598b-599.Translated:Yuri SdobnikovTranscription\Markup:R. CymbalaPublic Domain:Lenin Internet ArchiveYou may freely copy, distribute,
	display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and
	commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
	Archive” as your source.•README

ComradeStalin

ComradeStalin:

Iquestion the legality of yesterday’s decision about
Rozhkov, because:

first,this decision, contrary to custom and rules, had
not been entered on the agenda before 12.00;

second,the documents were not communicated to C.C.
members beforehand;

third,there was no ground for haste after a twofold
discussion of the question, especially since I was present
at the first part of the sitting, and the question came up
just when I had to leave. That is why I insist on referring
the matter to the plenum, especially because only a week
remains before it
meets.[1]

Onthe question of Lozovsky, I propose that the time
which has been made available should go into a more
thorough search for the necessary
candidates.[2]

We,as a Party, have already devoted an unconscionable
amount of energy to the Comintern, and, consequently,
to the Profintern as well. If Lozovsky has proved to be
independently not quite satisfactory, there is need to
recruit fresh forces either from among the foreigners, or
among workers who would in no case be used otherwise,
i.e., either for organisational, or practical, or
administrative work. That is why it is quite impossible to take
Kalnin who, I have heard, has started rather important and,
unless I am mistaken, rather successful work in Donbas.
On no account either should there simply be an
appointment of Tomsky, because he is swamped with work at the
All-Russia Central T.U.C., which is rendered extremely
difficult by the shortage of men. If necessary, I propose
the appointment of Tomsky and Rudzutak to have them
devote to this new duty not more than 30 minutes a day,
with the compulsory engagement of two or more
secretaries who know foreign languages and who are capable of
keeping Tomsky and Rudzutak informed in every detail.
I propose that an assignment to find such secretaries be
given to the Orgbureau or the Secretariat, provided they
are not removed from any post which our Party needs.

Idraw attention to the fact that if men like Rothstein
are not used, this is a clear indication of crying anarchy
in the administrative arrangements of the Profintern and
the Comintern, because, at any rate, such men have proved
by their long work that they are quite suitable for
literary activity, for example, in the oldNeue
Zeit[3];
there is no doubt that given the necessary secretarial
assistance these men will be of exceptional benefit, and the
required secretaries can and must be recruited not from
among Russians but foreigners. It is high time that an end
should be put to the drawing of forces from our Party for
the benefit of the Comintern and the Profintern.

Ipropose that a relevant proposal should be sent to
the C.C. Secretariat or the
Orgbureau.[4]

[1]OnDecember 14, 1922, the Politbureau of the R.C.P.(B.) C.C.
rescinded its decision of December 7 and decided to exile
Rozhkov to Pskov, and to deport him from Soviet Russia at the first
anti-Soviet act.

[2]OnNovember 30, 1922, the Politbureau of the R.C.P.(B.) C.C.
instructed the Orgbureau of the C.C. to place at the disposal of
the Comintern up to 10 functionaries within a week.

[3]DieNeue Zeit—a theoretical journal of the German
Social-Democratic Party, published in Stuttgart from 1883 to 1923.

Leninis referring to the period up to the mid–1890’s, when
Frederick Engels was helping the journal.

[4]Onthe question of the Profintern (Red International of Trade
Unions) the Politbureau of the R.C.P.(B.) C.C., on December 19,
1922, adopted Lenin’s proposals as set out in this letter,